Conveying apparatus.



No. 7|0,492. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

T. S. MILLER.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1901.)

(lo Nodal.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SPENCER MILLER, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,492, dated October7, 1902. Original application filed September 29. 1898. Serial No.692.171. Divided and this application filed February 16,1901.

Serial No. 47.567.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SPENCER MIL- LER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of South Orange, in the county of Essex and Stateof New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Conveying Apparatus,ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for conveying goods ofany kind between two points, and has particular reference to theconveying of coal and other supplies from one ship to another.

It will be evident from a consideration of the structure shown anddescribed that the device may be advantageously used for conveying goodsbetween fixed points; but it is particularly suited for use between twopoints which are liable to variations in position, so that the length ofthe connecting-load-conveying cable needs to be flexible.

My invention comprises the novel features which will be hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 shows two vessels connected by my device for the purpose oftransferring goods between them. Figs. 2 and 3 are details showing theoperation of my device.

In Fig. 1 I have shown my device as if em ployed in transferring coalfrom a collier to a war-ship. As therein shown, the collier B lies withits bow toward the broadsides of the war-ship A and is preferablyconnected thereto by tow-lines T, which extend to two points separatedlengthwise of the war-ship. In this condition it is designed that thecollier should work her engines backward sufliciently to counteract thepull upon the cable D, over whichtheloads are transferred to thewar-ship.

In the broadside position of the war-ship it will be moved through thewater but slowly, and the maintenance of a constant position for theships may be approximated, or the war-ship may be anchored. \Vhere thewar vessel is on a blockade or wishes to remain in the lee of a smallbody of land, this is an advantage. This method of connecting the shipsalso enables the goods to be delivered at any point desired in itslength. It is evident, however, that the two ships may be placed eitherbroadside or tandem and the (No model.)

coaling proceed while they are under way, if desired.

Mounted upon any convenient elevated support, as the mast O of thecollier or the ship from which goods are to be taken, is a sheave orblock E, through which passes a rope I, which has a block I connectedwith one end and has its other end wound upon a drum .1 of ahoisting-engine or otherwise connected with apower mechanism, by whichthe load may be hoisted.

The trackway-cable D has its outer end secured to the war ship or vesselwhich is to receive the goods at a point of medium elevation which isgreater than that of the deck of the collier or delivering vessel andless than that of the sheave or block E, through which the hoisting-rope1 passes. The cable D passes through the block F and has its end securedto a drum J, which has a frictional driving connection with any form ofmotor. This may be a drum such as shown in my Patent No. (337,143,issued November 14.,1899, or any form of connection which will permitthe cable to pay out or take it in as the strain thereon varies. I

One or more load-carriages are provided to run upon the cable D. Thesemay vary widely in construction. The form herein illustrated consists ofa frame embracing the cable D and having a wheel G journaled therein andadapted to run on the cable and also having a hook for the reception ofthe bags or other receptacles of the goods to be transferred.

Upon the block F is a lever or arm H, which has a hook on its outer endwhich is adapted to engage the frame of the load-carriage to preventseparation until the hooked end of the arm is released. This is donewhen the block F reaches the required limit of its hoist by engagementof the opposite end of the lever with the block E or any otherconvenient object.

To attach the load to the carriage, the hoisting-rope I is paid outuntil the block F and the cable supported thereby reach the deck orwhere the load may be conveniently attached to the carriage. When theload. is attached, the carriage, which is engaged by the hook on thelever II, is raised, carrying ICO the cable D with it until the hook isdisengaged by contact of its opposite end with the block E or othertripping device. At this time the inclination of the cable is toward theother ship, and the carriage immediately travels over the cable underthe influence of gravity to said ship. \Vhen the load-receptacles havebeen removed from the carriage, the block E is lowered, which changesthe inclination of the cable D, so that the carriage returns to thefirst ship either empty or having receptacles attached thereto, whichmay be either empty or filled with other goods, as desired.

It is immaterial what form of tension device is applied to the cable D,so that it may yield and vary its length, as made necessary by theraising and lowering of the block E or by the relative movement of thevessels. This may be secured by a friction-drum, as I have hereinindicated, by a counterweight, by a spring, or where both vessels areunder way a sea anchor or drag may be used, as indicated in myapplication, Serial No. 692,171, filed September 29, 1898, of which thiscase is a division. Where my device is used between two points ofconstant distance, the only variation necessary to provide for is thatdue to the raising and lowering of the trackwaycable.

, Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a conveying apparatus the combinationwith a trackway-cable, and two separated supports for the cable, ofmeans for raising one of said supports above and for lowering it belowthe level of the other support, and a yielding and recovering,strain-supporting or tension device attached to one end of the cable.

2. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, andtwo separated supports therefor, of means for shifting the relativeelevations of said supports to incline the cable in opposite directions,and a yielding and recovering strain-supporting or tension deviceattached to said cable.

3. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, asupport to which one end of the cable is directly attached, and asupport at the other end of the cable-span, of a hoisting and loweringrope passing over the last-mentioned support, and engaging thetrackway-cable, means for haulingin and paying out said rope, to raiseand lower the trackway-cable, and a yielding and recovering or tensiondevice attached to and supporting the strain of the trackway-cable.

4. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, acarriage thereon, a tail-support of substantially constant elevation,and a head-support, of an elevated sheave on the head-support, ahoisting and lowering rope passing over said sheave, a block secured tothe end of the hoisting-rope and receiving the trackway-cable, a catchon said block adapted to engage and hold the carriage and to be releasedtherefrom by striking another object while hoisting, and means forhauling in and paying out said hoisting-rope.

5. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, itssupports and a carriage adapted 'to run on said cable, of means forshifting the relative elevation of said supports to incline the trackwayin either direction, a catch adapted to hold the carriage at one end ofthe trackway until the cable is raised and a yielding and recovering ortension device connected with the cable and supporting the strainthereof.

6. In a conveying apparatus in combination, two vessels, linesconnecting said vessels to maintain constant relative positions thereof,a trackway-cable connecting the vessels, a yielding and recovering ortension device supporting the strain of said cable, a carriage adaptedto travel on the trackway,'and means for changing the relativeelevations of the supports for said trackway to incline the trackwaytoward either vessel.

February 11, 1901.

THOMAS SPENCER MILLER. Witnesses:

H. L. REYNOLDS, GEORGE H. HOSE.

